2007-02-06 P & Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning and Zoning Officer, February 1, 2007 We are writing this letter in order to address the major issues for the Hanzal Development near 7381 Old Mill Road. Our main issues and concerns for the development are the re-zone and the variance request for the property. We live at 7368 Old Mill Road so this will have a huge impact on our quality oflife. We are not against development at the property, but will want the development to conform to the ordinances and codes as we also had to when we built our house in 1998. We are listing the following concerns that would like the P & Z Board to look at when making their decisions: t.-S 1. Our neighborhood ~ zoned R-5, we would like that to stay the same across the street. Main concern is the lot and house structure must follow certain restrictions to comply. Ground Level structure must be minimum 1200 sq. feet and have three car garage of 600 sq. ft. area in garage. 2. Variance set-back issue is a major concern. Currently all of our houses/garage structures are set back from the street curb of more than 50 feet. City code requires set back in R-5 and R-2 to be a minimum of35 feet from the right of way easement on the street. (That usually equates 50 or more feet from the curb because of the easement.) Hanzal is requesting a 20 feet variance which would mean the house/garage would be 30 feet away from the street. The following are serious concerns when it comes to a variance that great: a. Safety is a major problem. Front yard would be very small and kids would be in the street more. Ifa child were to ride their bike from the driveway, there is no sidewalk there, thus an increased chance to being hit by a vehicle. b. Parking another issue. Driveway would be short, like the ones in North and South Robin Lane neighborhood. Cars would be parked on the street more like there. Cars in the driveway would be obstructing view for motorists because they would be in the right away more. c. Police patrol issues. Structure would be 30-40 feet closer to the street and thus blocking clear view down the neighborhood. d. Old Mill Road is a major traffic route to the north in Lino Lakes. Cars tend to go 30-35 mph and the road design there is a curve and a hill from the south. Cars coming from the south would not see the house until the last minute. Traffic has increased ever since Eagle Brook Church has opened to the north. Having the house that close to the road would increase to chance of having a vehicle strike it. (There was an incident like this in 1998 on this street, minivan went into a house) 3. More issues with approving a variance this great on the south lot are as follows: - No variance this great has been approved in this area before. There was a variance ofa 10 foot set back at 7381 Mill Road in 1999 but that builder also received a 50 foot variance was the Rice Creek Watershed District to build closer to the creek. That house/garage structure sits more than 45 feet from the street.